ANC could pay dearly in poll for picking ‘disgraced’ threesome – expert

Despite having been found by courts to have lied under oath, and public calls against them holding public office, the ANC has insisted on including former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini and former minister of home affairs Malusi Gigaba on its parliamentary lists.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule submitted the party’s candidates lists for the National Assembly and the nine provincial legislatures to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) yesterday.

Also included on the parliamentary list is Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane, in spite of corruption allegations against her, emanating from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga has criticised the party for acting against its own code of ethics and its anti-corruption stance.

Mathekga said the ANC could pay dearly in the May elections.

Former minister of Home affairs Malusi Gigaba. Picture: DOCTOR NGCOBO

Speaking outside the IEC head office, Magashule defended their inclusion: “We have looked at what the law says. [These] people have never been charged with any crime or offence.

“Why do you want to single out people because they’re out there in the media with allegations? Why do you want to deal with Nomvula, what has she done?”

Mokonyane was implicated in state capture by former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi when he alleged she received monthly payments and gifts from Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations.

Mokonyane denied any payment or bribe and vowed to challenge the allegations.

Gigaba resigned of his own accord after the court confirmed he had lied under oath, and there have been numerous calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Mokonyane and Dlamini.

Minister of Environmental Affairs Nomvula Mokonyane briefs media in Johannesburg on November 6, 2018. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

Mathekga said: “Indeed, no court found them guilty, it is a matter of ethics and not legality.

“Therefore it is a concern, particularly if the party says it aims to fight corruption. The perception will be that [it] is not serious.”

Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, research chairperson of Election Monitoring Network, which monitors election campaigns, said they were confident the IEC would discharge its mandate to ensure the candidates lists complied with the law.

“… in democracies the world over the process of choosing representatives is governed primarily by two sets of organisational and institutional rules – methods of candidate selection framed by party rules and the states’ electoral laws, respectively.”

Nyembezi said the law precluded, among others, civil servants, unrehabilitated insolvents, mentally handicapped persons and those convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment.

“We are also confident that the electorate will take into account the calibre of candidates on party lists when they decide which party to vote for.

“This consideration could prove one of the core ingredients of the mandate conferred by the electorate to political parties.”

Magashule said those nominated had accepted and declared themselves ready to serve and ensure a decisive ANC victory in May.

The 800 candidates for the national and provincial legislatures were all vetted, and the ANC noted the concerns.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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